"Anything that takes people off drugs is good - but I don't see how expensive golf equipment will help."

However, his wife, Councillor Alison Lilley, who represents the Fens ward, praised the initiative.

She said: "I think that absolutely anything we can do to help people addicted to drugs, within the confines of funding, is a good thing, even if there are only a few people who would be helped by taking up golf."